2nd April - Koshi Tappu reserve south section a.m. and north section p.m.
After the customary early breakfast, the plan was to drive a main track with goes the length of the reserve, to explore the southern end in the morning and then the northern and central areas in the afternoon. Around the middle of the day we had lunch back at the camp followed by a couple of hours siesta, or birding around the grounds for the more energetic of us. We had the use of four jeeps so we explored by driving in a slow convoy, stopping and scanning where the location and habitat looked promising, or when something of interest had been spotted, and where possible, disembarking and walking. The track passed through various habitats and as it was raised for much of its length we had good views over both dry and wet fields and parts of the river system and at times we passed through lightly wooded areas. It was pretty cool at first but soon began to warm up, with the temperature varying between 21 and 29 degrees during the day, with max humidity of 84%. The strange wigwams of wooden spars in the image above are a means of breaking up the flow of water in peak times to alleviate erosion of the banks in the large sweeping curves of the river. For an idea of the location of the reserve, click here to see a couple of maps.
Below are a few gallery images showing the typical habitats.
Below are a few gallery images showing the typical habitats.
The birding was excellent, and the main prize was Swamp Francolin, an endangered species which is now only to be found along the border between northern India and Nepal. Initially we had rather obscured views of one in the undergrowth near the track and getting a good view was pretty difficult, but then we lucked out as a bird was spotted out in the open on the drivable track, and stayed just long enough to fire off a couple of rushed shots with the camera. The map shows how limited the range now is - the red areas are where it is now extinct. We also saw a couple of Black Francolins which were much more obliging, standing out in the open in a dry area. Water birds and the like were pretty numerous, and new ones added to the already extensive list comprised 2 Black Storks, and 2 Black-necked Storks. We also added an impressive list of raptors, the open habitat suiting them well - Common Kestrel, the elegant and dainty Black-winged Kite, 2 Ospreys, including one carrying a large fish, an immature White-rumped Vulture, Marsh Harrier, 2 Shikra, a very smart White-eyed Buzzard, a new bird for me, and Himalayan Buzzard.
Another highlight of similar magnitude to the Swamp Francolin, was the discovery by Badri, one of our guides, of a Bengal Florican wandering through a grassy area a long way away on the other side of the river. How he spotted it without a 'scope is beyond me! Anyway we soon had our 2 scopes set up [mine and Alan's - the only ones we had between us], and everyone got a chance to see this elusive bustard species, apparently at the only location where one is likely to see it in Nepal. Some areas were open and sandy with shallow pools and on one of these we had an impressive group of 7 Temminck's Stint. These sandy areas were also good lark habitat and we easily found Greater Short-toed Larks and several diminutive and very pale Sand Larks, and in the adjacent short grass, Paddyfield Pipit.
In areas where there was more vegetation and some trees, we found 2 Common Hawk Cuckoos, a couple of Jungle Owlets, Asian Koel, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, 2 Fulvous-breasted Woodpeckers and 3 Streak-throated Woodpeckers, plus a rather larger woodpecker in the shape of a Black-rumped Flameback [formerly known as Lesser Goldenback]. Whilst on woodpeckers I should mention the Wryneck which I spotted in a bush by the side of the track. Other new birds for the trip included Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Greenish Warbler, and also Striated Babbler. Chats and flycatchers are always a delight to see, and we managed to find Dark-sided Flycatcher, a couple of Taiga Flycatchers, clearly showing their less extensive red throat than the very similar Red-breasted Flycatcher that fairly regularly turns up in the UK on passage, and we also had a tantalising glimpse of the elusive Siberian Rubythroat. We also scored pretty well with shrikes, with Brown-, Long-tailed-, and Grey-backed Shrikes of note.
The day's mammals comprised Asiatic Golden Jackal, watched as it wandered around on the dirt road for a while, Indian Flying Fox, Rhesus Macaque, Indian Grey Mongoose, Hog Deer and Wild Water Buffalo.
Another highlight of similar magnitude to the Swamp Francolin, was the discovery by Badri, one of our guides, of a Bengal Florican wandering through a grassy area a long way away on the other side of the river. How he spotted it without a 'scope is beyond me! Anyway we soon had our 2 scopes set up [mine and Alan's - the only ones we had between us], and everyone got a chance to see this elusive bustard species, apparently at the only location where one is likely to see it in Nepal. Some areas were open and sandy with shallow pools and on one of these we had an impressive group of 7 Temminck's Stint. These sandy areas were also good lark habitat and we easily found Greater Short-toed Larks and several diminutive and very pale Sand Larks, and in the adjacent short grass, Paddyfield Pipit.
In areas where there was more vegetation and some trees, we found 2 Common Hawk Cuckoos, a couple of Jungle Owlets, Asian Koel, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, 2 Fulvous-breasted Woodpeckers and 3 Streak-throated Woodpeckers, plus a rather larger woodpecker in the shape of a Black-rumped Flameback [formerly known as Lesser Goldenback]. Whilst on woodpeckers I should mention the Wryneck which I spotted in a bush by the side of the track. Other new birds for the trip included Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Greenish Warbler, and also Striated Babbler. Chats and flycatchers are always a delight to see, and we managed to find Dark-sided Flycatcher, a couple of Taiga Flycatchers, clearly showing their less extensive red throat than the very similar Red-breasted Flycatcher that fairly regularly turns up in the UK on passage, and we also had a tantalising glimpse of the elusive Siberian Rubythroat. We also scored pretty well with shrikes, with Brown-, Long-tailed-, and Grey-backed Shrikes of note.
The day's mammals comprised Asiatic Golden Jackal, watched as it wandered around on the dirt road for a while, Indian Flying Fox, Rhesus Macaque, Indian Grey Mongoose, Hog Deer and Wild Water Buffalo.
It was a pretty full on day and the birds above are really only the highlights of many many more ....
But I nearly forgot! The grounds of Koshi Camp were also pretty productive and held several Olive-backed Pipits, Grey Wagtail, Pied and Common Mynahs, and Chestnut-tailed Starling, but I can't leave out the 'mega'. Anne, myself and daughter Rachel were walking at the far side of the grounds when Rachel called me and said she'd seen and unusual bird, pointing out the location in the trees. I said OK it's only a Red-vented Bulbul (there was one in view) and fired off a couple of shots to show her, at the same time describing it, but was told that didn't sound like it at all. I then looked at the shots on my camera and lo and behold I did have a shot of what was obviously a Minivet of some kind. Having downloaded the image later, it turned out to be a Rosy Minivet, confirmed by Suchit, and apparently a pretty scarce bird to see there. So well done Rachel! My only explanation is that this was a classic 'two bird' situation and I only registered the Bulbul, then in looking through and aiming the camera I locked on to the Minivet without registering that it was a different bird.
But I nearly forgot! The grounds of Koshi Camp were also pretty productive and held several Olive-backed Pipits, Grey Wagtail, Pied and Common Mynahs, and Chestnut-tailed Starling, but I can't leave out the 'mega'. Anne, myself and daughter Rachel were walking at the far side of the grounds when Rachel called me and said she'd seen and unusual bird, pointing out the location in the trees. I said OK it's only a Red-vented Bulbul (there was one in view) and fired off a couple of shots to show her, at the same time describing it, but was told that didn't sound like it at all. I then looked at the shots on my camera and lo and behold I did have a shot of what was obviously a Minivet of some kind. Having downloaded the image later, it turned out to be a Rosy Minivet, confirmed by Suchit, and apparently a pretty scarce bird to see there. So well done Rachel! My only explanation is that this was a classic 'two bird' situation and I only registered the Bulbul, then in looking through and aiming the camera I locked on to the Minivet without registering that it was a different bird.